DTC Graduates

15 Earlier in the report, drug re-arrests are examined in greater detail. The DTC group did have significantly fewer drug re-arrests during the 12-18 month period after program entry, and fewer cumulatively (total) by 18 months at

Table 5. Number of DTC Graduates in Study Sample by Year

Admission Year

Number Graduated¹⁶

(N = 16)

Number Discharged

(N = 26)

Graduation Rate

2004 3 7 30%

2005 3 7 30%

2006 5 7 42%

2007 5 5 50%

Total 16 26 38%

* Note: most of the individuals in entering the program in 2008 were still in service at the time the data for this study were collected, so there are not enough individuals to calculate an accurate graduation rate for this year.

P^OLICY Q^UESTION #4:WHAT PREDICTS PARTICIPANT SUCCESS?

Which characteristics of drug court participants are associated with positive drug court pro-gram outcomes, e.g., graduation and reduced recidivism?

Graduation

NPC examined the characteristics of DTC participants who successfully completed the program (graduates) and those who were “terminated” or left the program for non-compliance before completing (non-graduates) (please see Table 6). Differences between these two groups can illu-strate the characteristics of the participants who are likely to have success in DTC and the cha-racteristics of the participants who may need additional or specialized services to succeed.

16 Graduates refer to the number of people who eventually graduated out of the number admitted during the stated year, though they may have graduated in a subsequent year. For example, there were no graduates in 2004, though three of the individuals who were admitted into the program that year eventually graduated.

Outcome/Impact Evaluation

Table 6. Characteristics of DTC Graduates and Non-Graduates DTC

Mean number of days at risk during the

pro-gram 466 274 Yes

Mean number of days incarcerated (jail

and/or prison) during the program 23 44 No

Average number of total lifetime arrests prior to the arrest leading to program

partic-ipation 7.06 7.89 No

Average number of total arrests in the 2 years prior to the arrest leading to program

participation 2.56 3.11 No

Average number of drug arrests in the 2 years prior to the arrest leading to program participation

1.81 1.64 No

Average number of property arrests in the 2 years prior to the arrest leading to program

participation .94 1.75 No

Average number of person arrests in the 2 years prior to the arrest leading to program participation

.13 .14 No

When DTC participant characteristics were examined together in relation to graduation status in a logistic regression model, time in the program was a significant predictor of graduation above and beyond other characteristics: graduates were more likely to be in the program longer. Fur-ther, age at start and days in jail and/or prison during the program were trend-level predictors, suggesting that the participants who were older at DTC start and those who had fewer days in jail and/or prison during DTC were related with graduation (p < .10).

Recidivism

Participant characteristics and arrest history were also examined in relation to whether or not par-ticipants were re-arrested in the 2 years following DTC entry. These analyses include DTC partic-ipants who had 24 months of follow-up time post DTC entry. The results are shown in Table 7.

17 Yes indicates p < .05, No indicates p > .10, Trend indicates p > .05 and p < .10.

Table 7. Demographic and Criminal Justice History-Related Variables That Predict

Mean age at eligible arrest date No

Mean length of stay in DTC program No

Time at risk Less time in the community Trend

Program status at exit Non-graduates Yes

Average number of total lifetime arrests prior to the arrest leading to program

partic-ipation No

Average number of total arrests in the 2 years prior to the arrest leading to program participation

No Average number of drug arrests in the 2

years prior to the arrest leading to program participation

No Average number of property arrests in the 2

years prior to the arrest leading to program

participation No

Average number of person arrests in the 2 years prior to the arrest leading to program participation

No

As shown in Table 7, DTC participants were significantly more likely to have been re-arrested within 24 months of program entry if they were non-graduates. Further, participants were more likely to have been re-arrested within 24 months of program entry if they had less time in the community during those 24 months, at the level of a trend (p < .10).

When these factors were entered into a logistic regression model, and each variable was con-trolled for, total number of lifetime priors to DTC program entry and time in the community were significantly associated with recidivism in the 24 months post DTC entry: participants who had more lifetime prior arrests and participants who had less time in the community (meaning they spent more time in jail or prison) were more likely to reoffend in the 24 months post DTC entry, above and beyond other characteristics.

19 Yes indicates p < .05, No indicates p > .10, Trend indicates p > .05 and p < .10.

Outcome/Impact Evaluation

Program staff are encouraged to talk to the participants who are having trouble in the program to learn what the barriers are for those participants in complying with program requirements and determine whether there is further assistance (e.g., transportation, learning to keep a calen-dar or schedule) that would make it possible for these participants to be successful in meeting program expectations.